Ashley MS 1376

Eleven Valentines written by Christina Rossetti to her mother; 1876-1886. Autograph fair copies written on one side only of eleven octavo leaves of various cream and grey laid papers (ff. 20 and 21 are wove paper). With the exception of ff. 2 and 3 all the leaves form bifolia with another leaf on which Christina has written 'The Queen of Hearts' before folding the bifolium into a triangular shape. Watermarks 'Antique / Parchmen [sic] / Notepaper' (ff. 1 and 22), J All[en] / F[ine], dated 1877 (f. 3), and 'Lindsaybyrne & Co', dated 1884 (ff. 16, 17). On the Valentine for 1877 Christina has written 'C. G. for M. F. R.', meaning that she had written it on behalf of Maria Francesca who had died on 24 Nov. 1876. On f. 22b (half of a wrapper originally enclosing the poems, the other half being f. 1) Christina has written in pencil 'These Valentines had their origin from my dearest Mother's remarking that she had never received one―I, her CGR, ever after supplied one on the day; & so far as I recollect it was a surprise every time, she having forgotten all about it in the interim'. First printed in New Poems, 1896, pp. 172-177. Ashley Library Catalogue, ix, pp. 111-112.

Octavo; ff. iii+22.

Christina Georgina Rossetti, poet: Frances Mary Lavinia Rossetti, née Polidori; mother of D G Rossetti: Valentines written to her mother from Christina Georgina Rossetti: 1876-1886: Autogr. fair copies.